tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60658675649696188112008-07-19T03:43:53.069-07:00Health Fitness Tipszonkettenoreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-90976274214056741632008-07-19T03:42:00.000-07:002008-07-19T03:43:53.083-07:00Agustin's Yoga Routine<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ESO4AHyy6YY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ESO4AHyy6YY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-64360116460241765302008-07-13T01:01:00.000-07:002008-07-13T01:02:27.947-07:00A New Way to Get Fit with Free Health and Fitness Tips for Busy People Delivered Straight to Your Cell Phone from the Health and Fitness Experts at SpFitness tips for busy people -- now delivered straight to their mobile phones. A new program was announced today that will deliver health and fitness tips straight to a user's mobile phone. The service, called Get Fit, will send motivation and inspiration right into the pockets and purses of busy people, giving them the tools they need to change their health and fitness lives for the better. It is targeted toward busy people who want to improving their health and fitness. Quick, smart advice.<br /><br />Boca Raton, FL, July 12, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Fitness tips for busy people -- now delivered straight to their mobile phones<br />A new program was announced today that will deliver health and fitness tips straight to a user's mobile phone. The service, called Get Fit, will send motivation and inspiration right into the pockets and purses of busy people, giving them the tools they need to change their health and fitness lives for the better. It is targeted toward people who are interested in improving their overall health, but lack the time to dig for the know-how they need to make a healthy difference.<br /><br />Users will simply sign up at www.txtvox.com to receive this service, and the tips, in the form of text messages, will begin arriving periodically on their mobile phones. The information will help people manage their weight, and will also provide all-around health tips to promote better overall physical and mental health. This is a free service for anyone who signs up during the summer launch.<br /><br />These tips are prepared by the team at Sports Health Exercise and Tracy Benham. Ms Benham is an experienced exercise physiologist with 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry -- and her team of equally experienced experts in fitness, strength training, sports, healthy cooking, and nutrition and mind-body fitness. Each tip is carefully prepared to provide a very specific, targeted piece of advice or a specific suggestion that offers a new way of looking at the choices we make to bring our bodies into optimum health.<br /><br />Interested users should sign up at www.txtvox.com and choose 'Get Fit'. Inspiration will begin arriving on their mobile phones immediately, and more tips are being created every day.<br /><br />About Tracy Benham, Owner of Sports, Health and Exercise (SHE):<br />Sports, Health and Exercise, LLC was started by Tracy Benham, who has a Masters in Exercise Physiology from UF. She assembled a team of experts in fitness, strength training, sports, nutrition and overall health and began get a lot of attention in the online community for her direct, gimmick-free, action-oriented health tips. Her successful programs, Holiday BootCamp, Kick Your Butt into Gear, and the Active Health Network™ have helped thousand reach their goal to achieve a healthy lifestyle.<br /><br />Sign up for your 'Get Fit Now' special report, free tip and reviews newsletter, videos and recipes and more at http://www.kickyourbuttintogear.com or http://www.sportshealthexercise.com<br />http://www.pr.com/press-release/92608zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-17443013316559783402008-06-29T06:19:00.000-07:002008-06-29T06:20:19.421-07:00Treatments For Female Hair LossHair loss in women is not as common as male pattern baldness, but still, 50% of women over 40 can suffer from this condition. There are many different causes of female hair loss, the most common cause is androgenic alopecia. This occurs when hair follicles become sensitive to the hormones androgens, which causes the hair follicles to shrink, causes a general thinning of the hair on top.<br /><br />In both male ad female hair loss, the hair follicles starts off large and thick, then gradually shrinks to produce thinner, finer hair. Where as in males hair loss will result in complete baldness. In women however, the hair follicles reacts more randomly to androgens, resulting in a more diffuse thinning of hair over the crown, and and will generally keep the frontal hair line.<br /><br />Female hair loss is quite often inherited from generation to generation. Symptoms of hair loss tends to exhibit after puberty, particularly after child birth, slowly experiencing thinning hair on top over the years. Stress is another common cause of hair loss. Other causes include iron deficiency, thyroid conditions and too much hair treatments like perming or colouring.<br /><br />Treatments<br /><br />There are good treatments out there for female hair loss. But firstly, it is best to see a doctor to get a thorough check up.<br /><br />Over the counter lotions containing Minoxidil ( Regaine ) works well in both male and female. The 2% solution is recommended for females and the 5% for males. Some experts says that the 5% is far more effective in female hair loss. The reason the 5% is not approved for females is that it can cause hair growth on the edges of their forehead, and also itching and drying of the scalp. These side effects though are quickly reversed once the treatment is stopped or the concentration is lowered.<br /><br />The prescription only drug Finasteride ( Propecia 1mg or Proscar 5mg ) has been used successfully in males for hair loss for a number of years. it was originally used in men for prostate disease. it works by blocking the enzyme that converts Testosterone to DHT. It's used for female hair loss has not been approved because they've found that it can cause serious birth defects in women. A number of experts though has successfully and safely trialled in women who can't or won't be getting pregnant. It has shown to have stopped female hair loss and even grown new hairs.<br /><br />There are some side effects to Finasteride. Some women has experienced hair growth around the hair line and some found the drug can lower their libido. Although with discontinuation with treatment these side effects are reversible.<br /><br />Another prescription drug that works well is Aldactone ( Spironalactone ). This is a diuretic and Testosterone inhibitor. It works well in some women, but some women found they experienced breast tenderness and other annoying side effects. There are reports that birth control pills high in estrogen can work by overriding testosterone levels, decreasing the chance of androgen related female hair loss. Vitamin supplements like Biotin, Zinc and Iron supplements has also been used to treat female hair loss.<br />http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Treatments-For-Female-Hair-Loss&id=1277974zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-38386373437069267992008-06-14T05:02:00.000-07:002008-06-14T05:03:12.134-07:00Health Fitness Tips How to Exercise with Water Bottle Weight<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yBtlFt9wves&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yBtlFt9wves&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-67693346868885992532008-05-30T23:55:00.000-07:002008-05-30T23:56:31.497-07:00Are You Really Ready To Lose Weight?Losing weight can be as difficult a hurdle to cross as stopping smoking for a person who has been smoking for a long time. This can be especially if you have been eating poorly for some time and your weight has been a long-term problem.<br /><br />Over eating, like smoking, is a habit that can be very hard to break for most people. To get to the shape that they desire, many people will yo-yo back and forth from one diet to another for the majority of their lives.<br /><br />Again, by comparing a person who is trying to lose with weight with one who is trying to quit smoking, that person will have a much better chance of succeeding once they make up their minds and commit to the idea of doing what it takes once and for all.<br /><br />Anytime that you start a weight-loss program you really need to commit to doing what it takes to reach your goal,or you may set yourself up to fail.<br /><br />Many people first have to conquer what goes on in their mind, even more than what they are putting into their stomach. You need to deal with the mental issues first before in order to have the best chance to lose weight and get in shape.<br /><br />If you get rid of certain habits in your life you can also train your mind to accept a new lifestyle as what is normal for you. Mind power can make or break whether you are able to maintain the habits that will ensure a lasting change.<br /><br />Most of our habits have become second nature to us and we don't really think about them. By turning bad habits into positive changes in your lifestyle, you can get to the point where you won't have to constantly focus on watching your weight.<br />http://www.ezinearticles.comzonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-56000379693226618522008-05-10T07:14:00.000-07:002008-05-10T07:16:33.315-07:00Important Reasons To Quit SmokingThe reasons to quit smoking are numerous, and can be seen on a daily basis. On the other hand, several smokers do not find any effective reasons to quit smoking cigarettes. Aside from the obvious risk of lung cancer, stroke and heart attacks there are other medical reasons to quit smoking. If improving your own health doesn't give you enough reasons to quit smoking, it may be interesting to note how smoking has an impact on those around you. The impact on the health of the children in a household where there is a smoker is evident and should be a consideration when looking at reasons to quit smoking. There are other reasons to quit smoking and some of these include just the monetary aspect of smoking.<br /><br />If you smoke, you are more likely to wrinkle at an earlier age and have deeper wrinkles. You are more likely to become impotent or have difficulty in maintaining an erection when you reach middle age. You are almost four times as likely to develop cervical cancer compared with nonsmokers. You are three times more likely to get middle ear infections than nonsmokers. You are also more likely to snore, which your partners are sure to find anti-social.<br /><br />Smoking accelerates the hardening and narrowing process in your arteries: it starts earlier and blood clots are two to four times more for those that smoke. A single cigarette can reduce the blood supply to your skin for over an hour. The blood vessels in the eye are sensitive and can be easily damaged by smoke, causing a bloodshot appearance and itchiness. Smoking damages blood vessels, inhibiting blood flow.<br /><br />Lungs that are constantly irritated by tobacco smoke often start producing too much mucus, which narrows the breathing passages and makes it harder to breathe. This can lead to an uncontrollable cough (so common its easily recognizable as smokers cough), and other breathing problems as the lungs struggle to cope with all the chemicals in tobacco smoke. Your lungs are filling with icky black tar; your heart is working harder to pump blood around your body. Besides doing damage to the lungs that can lead to cancer, smoking hurts the lung's fragile tissues in other ways.<br /><br />Cigarettes contain more than 4000 chemical compounds and at least 400 toxic substances. Cigarettes have dozens of cancer causing chemicals in each one. As a smoker you are more likely to develop over 14 different types of cancer, and damage nearly every part of your body. Nicotine is addictive and increases cholesterol levels in your body. Nicotine and toxins in tobacco kill nerve endings around the mouth and nose, reducing your ability to taste and smell. Nicotine is more addictive than heroine or cocaine.<br />http://www.ezinearticles.comzonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-13674393305431379422008-04-26T23:35:00.000-07:002008-04-26T23:37:50.785-07:00Tips On How To Improve Blood CirculationGood circulation is important in preventing illness such as heart disease and diabetes. These conditions are so common that if you yourself don't have one of them, it's a sure bet you know someone who does. Preventions is key when it comes to blood circulation problems, so learning how to improve blood circulation should be a priority for anyone who wants to enjoy good health. Here are some basic steps to increasing the health of your blood circulation.<br /><br />It is vital to keep your circulatory system flowing and this can be done with regular exercise. Doctors always tell us we need more exercise, but how many of us actually get up and do it? As you get older, inactive lifestyle habits can get in the way of exercise. Everyone knows what it's like to start a new exercise program and then get tired of it a few weeks or months later. Take your fitness level into account when crafting your own exercise program, and make sure that the activity or activities you do are enjoyable. If walking is your exercise of choice, appoint certain days and times to do this activity. Consistent exercise improves circulation and decreases blood pressure.<br /><br />Is it possible to learn how to improve blood circulation without increasing physical activity?<br /><br />Both your circulation and the overall health of your heart can be improved by the use of certain herbs. Use cayenne pepper to help strengthen and tone your capillaries and vessels. To reduce high blood pressure, try taking Hawthorne berries and rosemary. One way to lower cholesterol, maintain healthy blood pressure, and generally improve the health of your circulatory system is to eat garlic and onions. Consult your health care professional before taking any new herbs.<br /><br />Blood flow can become better with improved body functions, which is the result of a proper diet. Improving blood circulation is most improved by an adequate intake of Vitamin E. Vitamin E is usually not sufficient in the bodies of heart and diabetes patients. A number of studies have evidenced that getting enough of this nutrient actually makes the body need less oxygen, break down clots, and jump starts the formation of clot-busting blood vessels. For foods with a lot of Vitamin E, look for avocados, nuts, and unrefined vegetable oil.<br /><br />Cholin, vitamin B6 and inositol are key players in the fight for a healthy blood cholesterol level. You need to include an adequate amount of these vitamins for optimal circulation and strong blood vessels. Consuming a diet with adequate amounts of these vitamins has been shown to reduce medication requirements, lower cholesterol levels and incidence of heart attacks, as a clinical study of heart patients in the 1950s demonstrated.<br /><br />Many people have successfully learned how to improve blood circulation through dietary changes and regular exercise. Remember to hold off on taking any new supplements or starting a new exercise program until you've discussed it with your doctor.<br />http://www.ezinearticles.comzonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-64867556057050931162008-04-13T07:37:00.000-07:002008-04-13T07:38:26.551-07:00Lasik Eye SurgeryPeople believe that eyes are the window to their soul, so why not maintain their appearance and make them look beautiful entrance to the inner human being. Modern eye surgery techniques have improved the vision and appearance to several windows to the soul.<br /><br />Lasik eye surgery is the latest and the most innovative eye surgery technique that helps hundreds and millions of people to improve and vision and have a better outlook towards life with their beautiful eyes. This surgery is believed to be a blessing in disguise.<br /><br />LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and is a surgical procedure that reduces the dependency of an individual on contact lenses and glasses. This surgical or clinical eye surgery uses an excimer laser to permanently change the shape of the cornea, covering of the front of the eye. As compared to other eye surgery techniques, lasik helps in keeping a large part of the cornea surface intact that makes the patient more comfortable and have better vision more quickly. Lasik eye surgery was first performed in 1990 in the U.S. clinical trials. This was disocvered by Dr.Lucio Buratto and Dr.Loannis Pallikaris by blending the two prior eye surgery techniques, Keratomileusis and photo refractive keratectomy effectively. Further to it, Dr Jose Barraquer developed a device known as 'Microkeratome' that was made fit o cut thin flaps in the cornea and modify its shape. This modification or alternation of the shape of the cornea was known as keratomileusis.<br /><br />This breakthrough of eye surgery technique gave a new vision to the eye treatments and changed the complete perspective of an individual. Lasik in India was guided by Shroff Hospital that has opened eyes to a whole new world. Shroff hospital is the pioneer of Lasik eye surgery and has got several years of experience in eye treatments.<br /><br />The procedure of lasik technique is also as simple as the results. An antibiotic is first used to minimize any kind of infection in the cornea and then the patient is sedated. Eyes of the patient are cleaned and local anesthetic is used to get alleviate pain during the surgery. Thereafter, eyes are held apart with a lid speculum and a ring is placed on the eye. Suction is created using high pressure and microkeratome is used to cut a flap in the cornea. The flap is folded back to reveal the underlying stroma, the mid-section of the cornea.<br /><br />Then Eximer Laser from a computer-controlled laser vaporizes a portion of the stroma in a controlled manner. After the stroma is remolded, the flap is replaced and is secured through natural adhesion until healing occurs. This gives a much improved vision and changes the appearance of the eye with ease and comfort. Lasik is a successful treatment in accurately correcting levels of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.<br /><br />Most of the patients with eye problems are happy after the discovery of lasik eye surgery but like other clinical procedures, the risks are also involved. Therefore, it is important to understand the limitations and complications before planning to go for this kind of eye surgery. The most common risk factors associated with lasik eye surgery are lost vision, debilitating visual symptoms and severe dry eye syndrome. Therefore, weigh the risks and benefits of lasik, depending on personal value system and avoid being influenced by friends, relatives and doctors.<br />http://www.ezinearticles.com/zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-4316622567594838932008-04-02T22:48:00.000-07:002008-04-01T22:49:08.120-07:00What is a Swedish Massage?One of the common misconceptions of the massage industry by the public is what constitutes a massage. One of the comments heard by massage therapists from clients when a Swedish massage is through is, "You didn't work on my knots". To which the reply is, you asked for a relaxing Swedish Massage. In order to alleviate this common problem good communication is needed both on the part of the client and the on the part of the receptionist and the massage therapist. At the intake process, I always tell the client what will take place during the massage. And what modalities I use during their massage. When the client is booking the massage it may be necessary to explain the difference between the modalities of massage. And for the client to decide what type of massage is best for them at the time.<br /><br />The client must take into consideration what their health and mental status is. If they're stressed to the max, they might want to consider a nice relaxing massage. If they have a lot of knots (adhesions), tightness in their muscles or a limited range of motion, they might wish to receive a therapeutic massage. Or they may wish a combination of the two. That being said, the client must consider what's best for them.<br /><br />The first thing is to consider is what do you want the massage to accomplish? Are you looking for a nice relaxing massage or do you need the massage therapist to focus on certain sore, strained, tight or injured muscles? Why don't we take a look at the first choice of a nice relaxing massage.<br /><br />The Moves of Swedish Massage<br /><br />A Swedish massage consists of five types of strokes. The first is effleurage which are nice long flowing strokes with light pressure which warms up the muscles. This move is probably the most common when a massage is thought about.<br /><br />The next is petrissage. Petrissage is a kind of a scooping motion that effects the surface muscles and the fascia. Fascia is the connective tissue that covers the entire body. Sometimes it becomes bound or stuck and needs to be loosened.<br /><br />Another move is vibration. Vibration is the rhythmic shaking of the body to it's own rhythm. It feels very good and can actually put one to sleep.<br /><br />An additional move is called friction. Friction is done to the muscle fibers in either a circular pattern or perpendicular to the way the muscle fiber runs.<br /><br />The final move is called tapotement and can be one of several moves such as cupping, chopping, quacking or hacking and is probably the second most thought of move when one thinks about massage. It can be quite noisy so it's not done for very long and usually at the end of the session as this helps to awaken the sleeping client.<br /><br />All of these moves are part of the basic Swedish massage and can be used by the massage therapist in any order at any time.<br /><br />Flow<br /><br />The flow of a Swedish massage is at a nice relaxing pace. No rushing or quick movements in this type of massage, except for the tapotement component. The recipients of a good Swedish massage usually fall fast asleep. And snoring is a compliment to the therapist.<br /><br />The Benefits<br /><br />The benefits of a Swedish massage are; hyperemia or a reddening of the skin or a blushing of the skin, increased blood flow which helps the body' s metabolism, the release of endorphins the amino acids that work as the body' s natural pain killer, and finally enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow which is part of the body' s natural defense system.<br /><br />Music<br /><br />A Swedish massage session usually has a musical component to it as well. Nice relaxing music is played during the massage. The music varies according to the place of massage. For instance a massage franchise will play all of the same music approved by corporate. In a private or group practice, the therapist picks the music or in some cases lets the client pick their music or bring in their own CD's to play.<br /><br />Lighting<br /><br />Lighting is an important factor in a relaxing massage. After all, it's hard to relax when you're under spotlights or those God awful fluorescent lights. Side lighting or lamps are a good source of lighting as long as they have a dimmer control on them. Some therapists may even use candles in their practice, although fire laws may prevent the use of candles in an office building.<br /><br />Enhancements<br /><br />There are other things the therapist may add or add for an additional charge, such as aroma therapy, Reiki, salt scrubs or wraps.<br /><br />There you have it, all the components of a nice relaxing Swedish massage. In the next article, I'll cover the topic of a therapeutic massage which uses deep tissue moves as the primary means to accomplish the massage.<br />http://www.ezinearticles.com/zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-23306126195304274152008-03-01T00:26:00.000-08:002008-03-01T00:28:56.951-08:00Tips on How to Reduce Hair LossWhat exactly can you do to help reduce your hair loss? This is an excellent question and let me first explain a little about what causes hair loss in the first place. Hair loss can be caused by anything ranging from age, heredity, stress, hormones, and diet can even play a crucial part. The two primary causes of hair loss would have to be a buildup of DHT in the body and an insufficient diet. With this being said there are a few things that you can do in order to reduce the loss of hair.<br /><br />Ways to reduce hair loss:<br /><br />Proper Hair Care - Daily shampoo and conditioning<br />Avoiding using dyes and harsh chemicals on your hair<br />Making sure to get plenty of sleep<br />Try and keep your stress levels low<br />Avoid or limit the use of smoking products and alcohol<br />Diet - a nutritional diet high in protein and essential vitamins and minerals<br /><br />With this being said, if you already have a form of hair loss or thinning there is a treatment that I have found that works extremely well. There are specially formulated supplements that are made for people who have this condition. They are natural products so that you do not have to worry about harsh side effects.<br /><br />How they work is that they work to block DHT that the body produces, a leading cause of hair loss (alopecia areata). Along with having targeted vitamins and minerals they have special herbs that are known to help with preventing and stopping hair loss and also with growing that hair back. I highly recommend this type of hair loss product and have found them to work very well.<br />http://www.ezinearticles.com/zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-27933805372846532382008-02-08T18:53:00.000-08:002008-02-08T18:54:04.520-08:00Stair Climbers - a Nice Addition to Any Home GymWhat you will find is the optinion of most trainters is that Stair climbers are excellent for toning and shaping muscles like the glutes and hamstrings but that that's about all they can do for you. There are a few Different kinds of stair climbers that are available for sale, some are cylinder-driven, wind-driven and computer-controlled models.<br /><br />Other Cardiovascular Fitness Equipment that you may want to check out before you buy one of these are exercise bikes, treadmills and elliptical machines.<br /><br />Stair climbers are pretty popular among home gym enthusiast and most people who have invested heavily into a home gym setup will have one sitting around. What I have found though is people tend to not use them as much as other equipment if they are available.<br /><br />Active stair climbers are somewhat more fit and have a considerably bigger aerobic capacity. There is a strong association between stair climbing and bone density in post-menopausal women so if that's your case, one of these could help you have stronger bones in your later years.<br /><br />These machines are also said to improve the amount of "good cholesterol" in the blood.<br /><br />Stair climbing definitely increases leg power, with machine or not and can be a very high priority element in helping one reduce the risk of a heart attack later in life if you do it regularly but without abuse. Stair climbing can also very likely aid anyone to build and sustain healthy bones, muscles and joints.<br /><br />Residential Stair Climbers are a very convenient and easy form to increase your cardiovascular workout without having to step out of the house. A lot of younger folks like these machines for the fame in helping out the muscles in the legs, thighs and buttocks.<br /><br />Some nice steppers for very good prices can be found online or on ebay auctions. Ebay is a nice place to buy because you can find systems way below the asking price in most stores.<br /><br />Of all the ones I have used in gyms before, the Health Rider was the one I thought I'd get for my home when I build my home gym. There are many options available though so make sure to do your home work when buying one.zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-7946412472733091382008-01-19T01:37:00.001-08:002008-01-19T01:37:46.270-08:00Health and Exercise Tips - Ab Crunches<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BxqSHdVLri8&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BxqSHdVLri8&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-862950645960197292008-01-12T09:44:00.000-08:002008-01-12T09:45:47.213-08:00Addiction RelationsDRUG RELATIONS: -Marijuana<br /><br />David Powelson MD. The Chief of psychiatry at Cowell Hospital University of California wrote, " I now believe that marijuana is the most dangerous drug we must contend with" The user is given an illusion of feeling good; he or she cannot sense deterioration of the mental and physiological processes.<br /><br />Continued use leads to deteriorated thinking<br /><br />The real issue is the health danger posed by epidemic danger of marijuana use especially by the younger generation.<br /><br />One is the effect of the intoxication caring less about everything The other area is purely physical such as chronic bronchitis among marijuana users, to the very possibilities of harmful hormonal effects on the immune system possibly even cancer. In the long run Marijuana widens the gap between nerve endings in the brain that are necessary for the vital functions of memory, emotions and behavior.<br /><br />Marijuana is a very potent drug and the biggest mistake we make is comparing it with alcohol. It is made from the dried leaves and flowering tops of the hemp plant which provides useful fibers for making rope and clothe. It can also be used in making disinfectants and insecticides.<br /><br />At times we feel that we cannot picture life without an addiction but we will find release from care, boredom, loneliness and worry<br /><br />In sorcery the use of drugs was generally accompanied by appeals to occult powers with the provisions of various charms, professedly designed to keep us impressed with the mysterious resources and power of the devil because a blank mind and Hallucinations are easy preys.<br /><br />Being addicted to alcohol or drugs means conviviality, companionship and colorful imagination. It means release from all fear. The old pleasures are gone. They are now but only memories.<br /><br />Our life thinking was centered in drugs or alcohol in one form or another. And addicts is simply that a man / woman whose life is controlled by drugs or alcohol. We did not choose to become addicts. It will isolate us from people except when we were getting, using and finding ways and means to get more<br /><br />We cut ourselves from the outside world. Our world shrank and isolation became our life. Our misconception includes visions of violence, street crime, dirty needles and jail. We lied, stole, cheated and sold ourselves.<br /><br />We must remember of the time when we sat alone and where consumed by fear and self pity and living skills will reduce to the animal level The capacity of humanity we lose, our spirit broken, we lack the ability to cope with our daily living.<br /><br />As our addiction progressed we found ourselves in and out of institutions and our illness was still with us. Some may also fall into thoughts of suicide.<br /><br />We are trapped into an illusion of WHAT IF?<br />It is when instincts are warped and bent out of shape that lead us into trouble, for every distortion brings pain. What you want to be aware of is your reaction to what happened to you, things that you remember and felt the pain of embarrassment, fear, and guilt. Don't let is scare or dissuade you, be honest and fearless to yourself.<br /><br />No one is capable of remembering every incident that happened in our life so deal with the ones that you remember especially those problems that were created as a result of our drinking. Our negative feelings had wrecked us spiritually, mentally and physically. When you have figured out the first problem, then go one step forward and do something about it.<br /><br />We buried our defects under thick layers of self-justification and have finally ambushed us into alcoholism, drugs and misery. Our honest appraisal is the first tangible evidence of our complete willingness to move forward, we must act our way into right thinking. If any double suggests an area of discomfort or trouble GET RID OF IT.<br /><br />A decision without action is meaningless, as we end up living a very lonely and self-absorbed existence. We need to differentiate between destructive self-will and constructive action. Do things that will help you stay clean?<br /><br />Willingness often comes in the wake of despair or a struggle for control. Faith propels us forward into action and gives us the capacity to actually make a decision and carry it out into action. Trust comes into play after faith has been applied. It will increase our level of freedom and we will find we are on the right path. We will be willing to take risks we never had the courage to take before.<br /><br />Draw close to God and he will draw close to you<br /><br />Positive thoughts becomes words<br />Words becomes action<br />Actions become habits<br />Habits becomes values<br />Values becomes your<br /><br />DESTINY.zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-56858431295873383162007-12-30T06:55:00.000-08:002007-12-30T06:56:33.607-08:00Gestational Diabetes - Worth Information And Recommended DietIndeed, gestational diabetes is an uncommon situation during pregnancy when placenta produces some substances that make mother's insulin not to work properly. Usually, this might happen at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, so there is no worry for baby malformation.<br /><br />After giving birth you'll not worry to have diabetes again, but there is a risk for you to have it later in future. That's why you should care a lot.<br /><br />Actually, mother's pancreas produces insulin correctly, but somehow this insulin cannot work properly. This leads to increased blood sugar level, and you may have all the signs and symptoms of high blood sugar level, such as<br /><br />- being most of the time thirsty, and this leads to increased urine frequency<br /><br />- at the same time you're feeling hungry, but still have weight loss<br /><br />- Frequent uro-genital [bladder, vagina] and skin infection, and so on.<br /><br />Not all the pregnant women can face the gestational diabetes problems. If somehow, you're facing them, keep in mind that they're not life threatening. They recall your attention of what you're eating or doing, but are not harmful for you.<br /><br />On the other hand, what your baby will face is the problem of overweight that will lead to a cesarean birth.<br /><br />One common problem that your baby will face after birth is hypoglycemia. The medical team will take care of it.<br /><br />Anyway, you should care of high blood sugar level and keeping it at normal range. How can you do this?<br /><br />As a diabetic mother you should care of what you're eating. Try to follow the most recommended diet for gestational diabetes. That will help you in lowering blood sugar level. You should do a lot of exercise too, such as yoga, walking in fresh air.<br /><br />You have your body under your responsibility. Don't throw away the opportunity to be a good mother, even if your child is still inside you, and you cannot see. What you eat, what lifestyle you follow can determine how healthy your baby will be.<br /><br />I'm not talking here about the excessive weigh he/she might have. I'm talking about how much good health he/she will have.<br />http://www.ezinearticles.com/zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-25440405784142111622007-12-23T06:05:00.000-08:002007-12-23T06:06:05.676-08:00The Cause of Hair Loss and How to Stop and Reverse ItIn this article you'll learn the cause of hair loss and how to stop and even reverse it!<br /><br />The Cause of Hair Loss<br /><br />Although it is true that DHT directly results in hair loss by stunting and destroying follicles, what causes this is often misunderstood, and as a result most people never EFFECTIVELY stop their balding problem. So what causes DHT? Is it really testosterone? Well, simply put, it is not testosterone. That is the big myth about hair loss. This is primarily produced by the hormone ESTROGEN. It is excess estrogen (a condition called "estrogen dominance") which results in OVERproduction of DHT...<br /><br />Estrogen is the underlying hormonal cause of hair loss.<br /><br />With this well known, it becomes easy to effectively stop your hair loss and regrow thick hair - simply lower the estrogen levels in your body to normal levels, and remove the DHT on your scalp. Here's how:<br /><br />Step One - Lower estrogen levels<br /><br />Pollution in the environment (e.g. car fumes) and toxins in modern food (e.g. colourings) account for the excess estrogen in your body. This is easily solved, although takes a few weeks to do. You need to increase the ability of your main detoxification organ, the liver, to neutralize the pollution and toxins BEFORE they form into estrogen once inside the body. This can be done by taking a liver cleansing product for a few weeks. You should also aim to eat organic food to help the liver with the burden.<br /><br />Step Two - Remove DHT from your scalp<br /><br />Once you have returned the estrogen levels in your body to normal, your body will stop Over producing this. But you still need to remove the existing DHT on your scalp, as this will continue to cause hair loss.<br /><br />To remove it you need to use a DHT removing agent. Many expensive one exist on the internet, but the truth is you can make your own for a fraction of the cost, at home. Once you have done both steps your hair loss will be stopped, and you stand a great chance of regrowth.zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-37951605090730226422007-12-16T01:35:00.000-08:002007-12-16T01:36:08.805-08:00Reishi Mushroom Kills Cancer And Almost Every Other AilmentWhen you are sealed you start to take care of the health of your body. One thing you can do to prevent and cure a variety of ailments is to take a little reishi mushroom, an Asian mushroom with incredible health benefits.<br /><br />The University of Haifa in Israel reported on Friday December 14 2007 that the reishi mushroom can be used to fight prostate cancer. They found that the reishi mushroom "attacks the cancer cells directly."<br /><br />The reishi mushroom, Ganoderma Lucidum, was a rarity found only in the wild until only the last quarter of a century when the Japanese have been able to cultivate them as a crop.<br /><br />The University of Haifa says the reishi mushroom gives hope that a medication will be developed out of it that could fight prostate cancer. Fighting cancer is just one in a long list of health benefits the mushroom offers.<br /><br />Called Ling Zhi in China, the reishi mushroom has been an important medicinal plant for the Asians for millennia. In the wild it grows upon rotting plum trees and only occasionally on some oak too.<br /><br />Now it has been cultivated and extensive tests have been done on it to find out just how valid all its numerous health claims are. And many of the benefits are a ceratainty.<br /><br />The reishi mushroom is an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body fight stressors like fatigue, anxiety, or trauma. It is never toxic to someone who eats it. It is non-specific meaning it protects against multiple stressors.<br /><br />And as an adaptogen it is also normalizing, meaning it normalizes the physiology of the body in spite of the "norms" the stressor is trying to introduce. And it lowers anything hyperfunctioning in the body while increasing anything hypofunctioning.<br /><br />The reishi mushroom is considered an effective prevention, not just a cure for disease, and is said to have the ability to prevent almost all of the most common diseases, like heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis as well as cancer.<br /><br />LDL is the bad cholesterol in your body, building up on the walls of your arteries. It is implicated in heart disease and has caused many heart attacks. The reishi mushroom is said to lower your LDL, or bad cholesterol.<br /><br />The reishi mushroom is also said to cure and prevent pain from headaches and stomach aches, and also be useful in curing and preventing back pain. If pain is caused by stress, as mentioned earlier it eliminates stress too.<br /><br />It also is effective in treating asthma and influenza and the common cold. It will eliminate the coughing that is the symptom and even work on the underlying illness.<br /><br />It works for insomnia, and while you are getting your body sleep, it helps treat your skin and cures and prevents hair loss too. The Asians used it for thousands of years also to treat liver problems.<br /><br />When you are sealed you begin to take care of the health of your body. And you learn about these natural (or indeed spiritual) wonders of God's creation. He has given you just what you need to prevent and cure most illness.zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-80796933625465545242007-12-08T07:03:00.000-08:002007-12-08T07:04:21.172-08:00Discount Hearing Aids - Cost Effectiveness Of Hearing AidsSince digital hearing aids are much more costly comparable to other ones, but wholesale market has made it feasible to purchase ices on cheaper rates by introducing a wide range of hearing devices with affordable prices. According to a survey about ten people out of hundred are in need of improved hearing sense devices and twenty percent of these use such latest and highest performance hearing aid. Mostly people can buy only one-discount hearing aids from their salary limit. However, prices have been effecting on desires of such people by making them unable to have such discount hearing aid in past but due to new techniques in modern technology of hearing devices prices are coming down slowly in the range of common people.<br /><br />Also due to investment of retailers in this way has made more and more discount hearing devices in the market in huge quantity. Resultantly this factor does help in making cost of hearing aid more and more cheaper. While buying a discount hearing aid device one should make it confirm about the originality of device by performance and its condition. Such devices must not been reassembled or used before purchasing so one should do his utmost effort to buy the original one. So by taking different precautions the buyers should not be deceived while purchasing such sensitive devices. Considering all these factors people can make their lives more efficient and better working by buying discount hearing aids.<br /><br />Material Sensitivity Of Discount Hearing Aid<br /><br />Discount hearing aids have implanted many sensitive micro devices in its circuitry like hearing microphone, speaker and batteries etc. These micro devices loose their performance gradually over the time due to many factors like careless use and temperature etc. But when a buyer buys such sensitive things personally or through Internet he cannot well judge about the actual state of micro devices used in discount hearing aid devices. So far this purpose there should be a international understanding and standard for it which should be accepted by every one in a country.<br /><br />Role Of Federal Deaf Association<br /><br />In United States, to develop standards and specifications for discount hearing aid devices FDA is working in right direction for the betterment of people. It has made many reforms and classifications related to medical devices. It has divided different medical devices into different classes like class one, class two and so on. It has agreed on some particular standards of discount hearing aids, however, in this situation some whole sellers have been selling hearing aids devices also on cheaper rates with low quality from those ones which are being soled according to FDA standard previously.zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-57847596422803603362007-12-02T23:04:00.000-08:002007-12-01T23:05:12.879-08:00Multi Sexual EnhancementThere are hundreds of Natural Enhancement Sites out there. Which one is the best? Which one is the cheapest? Which enhancement products really work ?<br /><br />All those questions and more can be answered here at the Better Sex Mall. You can scour the web opening window after window, comparing each and every product until you are blue in the face. Or you can let us do the searching for you, which we have done.<br /><br />We have spent hours listening to your feedback. We have spent days comparing each and every product. And we have spent weeks putting this site together to help you make an informed decision before purchasing.<br /><br />Better Sex Mall has took the best of the best on the market and put them all under one roof. We have listened to what our customers say. We know which sex enhancement products have consistent reorders. And we know which products really work and which ones that are just hype.<br /><br />So, if your love life has hit rock bottom. If your love life has become nothing more than a chore. If you have tried every move there is twice. We are here to help. There are new products on the market that can turn the heat up in the bedroom and we are here to help you choose which one is right for you.<br /><br />There are many sexual aids and penis enhancement programs online, but we're confident that we have found the best. We found the ones that offer high quality all natural supplements and topical creams, plus other surprising additions to the adult's arsenal, to help men and women make the very most of their assets and nocturnal activities!zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-16626209563171925282007-11-25T06:47:00.001-08:002007-11-25T06:47:58.099-08:00Home Remedies For Backache - No More Backpain NowBackache, as the name suggest, is nothing but pain in the back. It is one of the most common ailments of the mankind. Medically, it can be considered as lumbago especially when the backache is lower backache. It is a discomfort in the area of lower back and this pain could be acute or chronic. If it has lasted more than couple of months, it needs medical attention. Backache can affect a person at any age but it is commonly seen with people above 50 yr.<br /><br />There are many reasons that can cause backache. Backache is very commonly seen in women. Most common reason is menstrual periods. Some of the health ailments such as slipped disks, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis etc can also give rise to backache. Rarely, deformation of natural spine curvature (scoliosis), tumors and infections in spine can cause backache.<br /><br />Home remedies for backache:<br /><br />• Some of the experts suggest drinking glucose or honey in warm water early in the morning with empty stomach. This can be useful treating backache.<br /><br />• One of the most effective remedy treating backache is doing Yoga and Pranayama. These techniques tone up the muscles and do wonders in curing backaches.<br /><br />• Heat packs give great relief in backache. You can have them as much as possible.<br /><br />• Some of the naturopaths suggest that lemon is useful as home remedy for backache. The juice of one lemon mixed with common salt and given to the patent twice a day for about one month may give great relief from backache.<br /><br />• Raw potato can be considered as useful home remedy for treating backache. Application of raw potato in the form of poultice will be great idea to lower down the pain from the back.<br /><br />• If you are obese, try to reduce the weight. Obesity worsens the case of backache.<br /><br />• Massaging is the time tested and trusted home remedies treating backaches. One can use herbal oils to massage the back. Do it regularly for 6 months to get maximum results.<br /><br />• Changing the lifestyle such as change in postures, sleeping habits and bending forward will be helpful treating backaches. One should sleep on the flat surface; this will be helpful relieving the backache.<br /><br />• Some doctors suggest that Vitamin C plays important role in treating the backache. One should consume Vitamin C regularly in the form of pills or eating those vegetables and fruits that have Vitamin C.<br /><br />• Applying garlic oil will be one of the most effective home remedies for treating the backache. For this, take about 10 small garlic pieces and then fry them in little oil. You can use sesame oil, coconut oil or mustard oil. You must fry till the garlic cloves turn light brown. Cool the garlic oil completely. Apply it on the back regularly and massage it deeply. This is very beneficial treating any kind of backaches.<br /><br />• One of the Ayurvedic drugs called 'sallaki' has proven its efficacy treating the backache. This wonderful drug is available in the form of pills and capsules.zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-35318064192818092722007-11-21T08:59:00.000-08:002007-11-21T09:00:55.898-08:00How Does Lasik Eye Surgery Work?Basically, Lasik eye surgery is a special subset of laser surgery routines. Before you are approved for Lasik eye surgery, your doctor will have to perform several test. Along with this, you will need to secure financing for the procedure.<br /><br />To begin, your eye doctor will need to make some imaging studies of your eye shape and geography. Among other things, the wavescan map will reveal astigmatisms, cataracts, and any eye movements that may prevent you from having effective visual correction with Lasik eye surgery. If you have certain kinds of astigmatism, you may not be a suitable candidate for Lasik eye surgery. A great deal will depend on the extent and complexity of the abnormal shape.<br /><br />When it comes to the actual procedure, there are a few different types you can choose from. The chepest type of Lasik eye surgery utilizes a microkeratome, or tiny scalpel, to make the intial cut into the cornea of your eye. While this method is effective, better results can be achieved with the IntraLase procedure. In this type of Lasik eye surgery, the initial cut is made with a laser.<br /><br />Once the initial cut is made into the cornea, your eye doctor will use a computer guided laser to sculpt the cornea in such a way that it will create changes in the way light moves into your eye. As may be expected, the corrections necessary will vary from eye to eye and patient to patient. The amount of correction that you experience may also change as you continue to age. Because your eyes will continue to change, Lasik eye surgery cannot guarantee perfect vision for the rest of your life.<br /><br />If you are interested in having Lasik eye surgery, and are a suitable candidate, you must be able to pay for the procedure. Unfortunately, most insurance companies will not pay for the procedure, even if you have vision coverage included in your policy. If your credit is good, you may be able to obtain a loan that will cover the cost of your surgery.<br /><br />There is a wide range of price per eye, depending on the level of lasik eye surgery you choose, and the number of corrections that must be made. That said, the average cost is about $2,000 per eye. Unfortunately, there are a number of Lasik eye surgery centers that advertise prices as low as $500.00 per eye. It is important to read all of the literature, and make sure that all of the necessary services and facilities are included in the price. You may want to check a few places, so that you have some idea of what should be included in the price you are quoted.zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-14393483734717864482007-11-15T06:16:00.000-08:002007-11-15T06:17:37.890-08:00Herbal Remedies for Depression - Consider These Instead of Traditional MedicationJust because you have depression, doesn't mean you need to take the traditional medication. In fact, a number people are getting fantastic results using herbal remedies for depression.<br /><br />While sadness is a feeling we all expression from time to time, prolonged sadness without recovery is something no one should have to experience. In fact, if you're experiencing this now, then you are probably depressed. If so, you should be aware of the options you have for depression treatment, specifically the herbal remedies for depression that are available to you.<br /><br />Some of the more common herbal remedies for depression include ginseng, lavender, Rosemary skullcap, valerian, lady's slipper, and vervain, just to name a few. In some cases, a combination of different assorted herbs are used for depression relief. This is a good alternative if one herb by itself isn't producing depression relief.<br /><br />Herbal remedies for depression can be used on their own, or in conjunction with psychotherapy. Traditionally, patients have attributed more successful recovery from depression when the combination of therapy and herbal remedies for depression are used.<br /><br />In addition to herbs, herbal tonics are another option for you to consider. Of course, you should consult a professional before deciding on using any available herbal remedies for depression, to make sure there will be no harmful interactions with your current diet or medicines.<br /><br />One of most common forms of herbal tonics that are available to treat depression are teas. For example, a mixture of different herbs such as Rosemary, lavender, and kola, can be blended together then boiled in water, let sit for 15 minutes, then strained. What's left is a tea you can drink to help assist you in your Depression relief.<br /><br />If you're not familiar with a variety of different available herbal tonics out there, you can do an Internet search. You will find many different herbal tea recipes that can help you with your depression. These tea recipes are especially effective for the more mild and moderate depression.<br /><br />If your depression is more serious, it's important that you seek the help of a professional. However, herbal remedies for depression in conjunction with professional help can produce wonders.<br /><br />If you've tried medication, and have found it not to be ineffective, or you had trouble with the side effects, then you should consider St. John's wort as an alternative. It is an effective natural ingredient that has been found to treat depression. If you're interested in different herbal remedies for depression, ask your therapist what options you have available for your specific situation.zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-32250676917431727482007-11-09T07:21:00.000-08:002007-11-09T07:23:22.215-08:00Nordic Track Apex 6000 Treadmill ReviewNordic Track Treadmills are some of the most popular treadmills on the market today. The new Nordic Track models have shown a vast improvement over some of the older machines.<br /><br />An example of this is the Nordic Track Apex 6000 treadmill. Introduced around 2006, the Nordic Track Apex 6000 came on fast and strong - it is one of their most popular treadmills for under $1000. And there are rumors that because it's selling out so fast, it won't be available much longer.<br /><br />The Apex 6000 offers loads of exercise training options, a strongly powered motor, spacious walking area and high user weight capacity.<br /><br />Is it the right fit for your workout needs? Here's a review of the NordicTrack Apex 6000 treadmill to help you decide:<br /><br />Quick Stats:<br /><br />Price: $899<br /><br />Motor: 3.0 Commercial DurX™ Motor<br /><br />Speed: 0 -12 MPH<br /><br />Incline: 0-12%<br /><br />Treadbelt: 20 x 55"<br /><br />Folding: Yes<br /><br />300 lb Weight Capacity Deck<br /><br />Lifetime Motor Warranty, 1 Year parts and Labor<br /><br />Extra Features:<br /><br />4 Distance Training Workouts - You have the options for a 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon-training workouts. This is a great option for trainers or for those who enjoy striving towards fitness goals.<br /><br />11 Built In Personal Trainer Workouts - There are 11 built in workouts, designed by a certified personal trainer, that automatically adjust the incline and speed of your treadmill, each focusing on an aerobic, weight loss or a performance goal.<br /><br />Hand Grip Heart Rate Monitor - It's easy to monitor your heart rate and stay in your target heart rate zone with either wireless or hand grip heart rate moniters.<br /><br />DuraSoft™ Impact Reducing Cushioning - A good cushioning system is essential to your treadmill - especially if you plan on using it frequently. Poor cushioning can end up damaging your knees, hips, back and ankles. This cushioning system reduces impact on your joints by up to 28%, as compared to road running.<br /><br />Strengths:<br /><br />The Nordic Track Apex 6000 is a great little treadmill for under $1000. It's affordable for the home gym on a budget, has an amazing 3.0 continuous duty HP motor (rare in this price range) covered by a lifetime motor warranty.<br /><br />The 300 lb weight capacity is on the higher side for treadmills at this price point and adds to the overall stable feel of the treadmill.<br /><br />If you're a goal oriented exerciser, you'll love the options this treadmill gives you: 11 built in personal trainer workouts, 4 distance training workouts and iFit compatibility (which allows you to download even more workouts to your treadmill from the Internet.).<br /><br />Weaknesses:<br /><br />It would have been nice to see a longer parts warranty on the treadmill - parts and labor are only covered for 1 year. However you can get extended warranty coverage on checkout. The Apex 6000 is also not necessarily recommended for runners or heavier users - while it offers a lot of great features, it's still not a commercial machine.zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-75024235573871371742007-11-03T08:57:00.000-07:002007-11-03T08:58:54.646-07:00Teaching Hatha Yoga - What Do Hatha Yoga Students Want?At this point in time, Yoga has gone "global." Most Yoga students, outside of India, have heard of three of the nine main types of Yoga; the most commonly known are Hatha, Raja (Ashtanga), and Kundalini Yoga. Of these three, Hatha Yoga, and its many sub-styles, have received the most publicity.<br /><br />In general, the public perception of Yoga is classified as a "mind and body exercise." When you ask the average person what that means, he or she will respond by saying, "Some sort of exercise." Hence, the reason why Yoga can be found in many health clubs is that Yoga becomes an exercise class, which is categorized with Tai Chi and Pilates.<br /><br />With that said, beginner students, with little knowledge of Yoga, have the perception they are entering an exercise class. Their reasons for coming to a Yoga class differ greatly. The main reasons for beginning Yoga practice are: Weight loss, weight control, stress management, low impact exercise, or pain management.<br /><br />Notice that beginners do not often seek enlightenment, meditation, mantras, Pranayama, or to change their lifestyle. In fact, the classification of Yoga levels is easy to understand, but it is inaccurate. Terms such as, beginner, intermediate, and advanced, are all based upon the physical difficulty of performing an Asana (Yoga pose). Again, the physical challenges are presented as the major aspects of Yoga practice.<br /><br />So, what do Hatha Yoga students want? To put it simply, they want some sort of mind and body exercise. Beginner Yoga classes could be presented as an exercise class, with much more to learn on the horizon. To guide beginner Yoga students on the path toward the study of Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi, is a lesson in futility.<br /><br />Many beginning Yoga students do not know what they are looking for. Most beginning Yoga students do not want to hold Asanas for long. They are so used to stimulation from technology, that short attention spans are common place. This is why Flow Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, and Power Yoga, are so popular with beginners. To ask them to practice Pranayama and meditation is a big challenge. This would require the mind to focus.<br /><br />There is an old sales and marketing saying which goes like this: "Sell the sizzle, not the steak." Let's look at the old saying and how it pertains to teaching Yoga classes. After 5,000 years of research, Yoga is a very deep subject, which cannot be covered in one class. If a student enters your class, or studio, looking for fitness - So be it.<br /><br />Label a few classes on the schedule as: Beginner fitness Yoga, Yoga fitness, fitness Yoga, or Yoga exercise. Start with warm-ups, teach Yoga postures, mix in a few breathing techniques, and end with a five minute body scan relaxation technique. On your schedule, write descriptions of all your classes, and give them options to go deeper into the subject of Yoga.<br /><br />The more serious Yoga students will take the path to study more about Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi, but there some who will choose to exercise the body, only. This is not a problem. Remember this: A little bit of Yoga is better than none.zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-81531336538172365942007-10-28T08:31:00.000-07:002007-10-28T08:33:00.665-07:00Factors to Consider When Buying Hearing AidsThere are a number of factors to consider when buying hearing aids. Below is a list of seven factors to consider:<br /><br />Severity of hearing loss<br /><br />This is one of the most important factors to consider is the nature and severity of your hearing loss. Your hearing professional can help you understand your unique loss characteristics, and explain the models that would best suit your needs. This may involve undertaking a number of hearing test to determine the extent of the hearing loss and most suitable product.<br /><br />Lifestyle<br /><br />It is important to think about you lifestyle and when the hearing aid is to be worn. What are the things you do that are most affected by hearing loss? Does you hearing prevent you from undertaking certain tasks or activities? Does you loss of hearing effect your job? Discuss your needs with the hearing expert who can recommend products which suit your lifestyle.<br /><br />Technology<br /><br />The quality of the sound is perhaps the most important consideration. With advancements of digital hearing aids the quality of the sound can often be fined tuned to suit your needs. Again the hearing expert will be able to help you assess the level of sophistication you need based on a range of issues.<br /><br />Size<br /><br />Hearing aids are now often very small and discreet. However, if your eyesight or dexterity is less than what they used to be, size may indeed matter. As a vey small hearing aid may be to fiddly to control. Alternatively, some new instruments adjust automatically or via remote control.<br /><br />Appearance<br /><br />Hearing aids now come in a variety of sizes, from tiny, completely-in-the-canal models to those that sit behind the ear. Many people are overly concerned about appearance, and it's wise to remember that others will be far less aware of your aid than you. Most hearing aids are quite discreet. Consider the functionality and improvement in hearing, rather than just appearance.<br /><br />The ear<br /><br />The size and shape of your outer ear and ear canal may also influence your selection of a hearing aid. For example, if your canal is extremely narrow, in-the-canal aids may not work for you. Your hearing professional will help determine which hearing aid options are appropriate for you.<br /><br />One ear or two ears?<br /><br />Two ears are better than one, since binaural, or two-ear hearing, is what helps us determine where sounds are coming from, and to distinguish between competing sounds more easily. If you have a hearing loss in only one ear, you may be fine with one hearing aid. Age- and noise-related hearing loss tend to affect both ears, but your hearing profile for each ear is probably different. If there is a loss in both ears, then you will benefit more with a binaural approach. In addition, some of the benefits of digital technology require two hearing aids.zonkettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065867564969618811.post-57697030606735623532007-10-25T08:33:00.000-07:002007-10-28T08:34:11.189-07:00Hearing Aids And TinnitusJohn, a patient of mine, came into my office this summer for an audiological evaluation. His main complaint was a loud ringing noise in his ears. This is called tinnitus. He claimed that this "high pitched constant noise was so loud anyone ought to be able to lean over, put their ear next to his and hear it too". The tinnitus was affecting his work during the day because he worked in a fairly quiet office and was making it very difficult to fall and stay asleep. John told us that he was irritable, short tempered, and just plain ol' cranky most of the time, because he could not escape from the noise that he had come to focus on constantly.<br /><br />Tinnitus is a phantom head or ear noise that the person perceives with no outside sound source present. Tinnitus can be in one ear or both. It can be present all of the time or come and go. It can change pitch and loudness. Tinnitus can be very low in volume and difficult to hear unless the environment is quiet and the person stops to "listen for it". However, others report their tinnitus is extremely loud, making it difficult to hear conversations, television, movies, or even their own thoughts. Some describe the sound as ringing, hissing, buzzing, chirping, frying, cricket/cicada/mosquito insect noises, pulsing, whooshing, and some even hear music. (hopefully a type of music they like!) Tinnitus can begin after noise exposure, head or neck trauma from a car accident/sports injury, ear infection, sinus problems, after taking medications that are toxic to the ear/hearing, certain types of auditory, nerve or facial tumors, jaw misalignments, and even smoking. Sometimes its difficult to remember that anything we put into our body gets into the blood stream and goes through our ear system. Many diseases such as heart disease and diabetes can be associated with tinnitus.<br /><br />As I am always stressing in my audiology practice: Please wear hearing protection! Everyone in my family laughs at me, but I pass out ear plugs, even at church, if the music gets too loud for my comfort. I wear hearing protection when I cut our lawn, use a blower or hammer, or attend a sports function, because even loud clapping hurts my ears. I feel you should wear hearing protection when using a blow dryer. I'm an audiologist, so it's my job to be extreme when it comes to protecting the delicate hair cells of the inner ear.<br /><br />John was fit with two CIC hearing aids with very large venting. He had normal hearing from 250-2kHz, dropping to a mild/moderate high frequency hearing loss from 3-8kHz. With this product we were able to give amplification only from 3-8kHz. It has been only 5 weeks, but John reports no tinnitus while wearing his CICs. I have found over the years that approximately 6 out of 10 hearing aid users report complete freedom or reduction in tinnitus while using their hearing aids. With this in mind, I always want to try this option with an open mind and open venting in the hopes that tinnitus sufferers will find some welcome relief with amplification. At night, when the ringing returns from taking out the hearing aids, we suggested that John use a bedside masker (a device that emits ocean waves, rain, thunder, forest, etc. sounds) with a pillow attachment so that his wife is not in the ocean with him all night long. She appreciates the silence and John loves sleeping "on the beach".<br /><br />There has been some encouraging preliminary reports from a major hearing aid manufacturer that some of their latest digital hearing aid technology has actually provided some users several days of relief from tinnitus. These are individuals with no significant hearing loss, but they do have constant moderate to severe tinnitus. Apparently the manufacturer is fitting their product in a manner similar to that of a high frequency hearing loss, using CICs with large venting. Their findings are to be compiled and released sometime in the near future. If shown to be valid, this will a huge step forward for tinnitus sufferers.zonkettenoreply@blogger.com